Types of Damages for Personal Injury

In personal injury cases, there are several types of compensation you can pursue.

These include the following:

Compensatory Damages

Punitive Damages

Nominal Damages

The nature of the injury, the length of time the person was injured / disabled,
and any comparative fault will all play a role in determining the amount
of damages awarded to the injury victim. Whether you were injured in a
car accident, due to a
dog bite, or after a
slip and fall accident, it is important that you understand the types of damages available to
you if your injuries were caused by someone else's negligence.

Compensatory Damages

These damages are specifically meant to reimburse an individual for their
injury or injuries. This can include any actual damages and general damages.
While actual damages specifically reimburse an individual for any out-of-pocket
expenses they may have covered upfront, general damages are awarded for
less tangible things you may not have physically paid money for, such
as loss of enjoyment of life, emotional pain and suffering, disfigurement,
loss of future wages / earning capacity. In comparison, actual damages
would cover items such as rehabilitation and therapy bills, hospital expenses,
property damage, and lost wages.

Nominal Damages

In cases where there is little evidence of actual damage, the court may
still award the injury victim nominal damages. These damages are awarded
to recognize that a defendant has legally wronged an individual, such
as selling them a defective product or failing to follow guidelines or
other rules.

Punitive Damages

In cases where the defendant has acted egregiously or maliciously, the
court may decide to award the plaintiff punitive damages. These damages
are reserved as a punishment. They are meant to teach the defendant a
lesson for their actions and essentially discourage any future activity
that may be intentionally harmful, reckless, or malicious.

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